Do you know that the rolling concept of linear bearings goes
back to ancient Egypt? In ancient Egyptian paintings, people are depicted
moving large stones on sleds with logs underneath. The most basic example of
how bearings work. But this is only a guess. The specific evidence for the
first bearing dates back to 40 a. C. Since then, bearings have evolved to meet
a variety of industrial needs. This blog covers small subsections such as
linear bearings and rail guides.
What is a bearing?
Before diving, we will define some useful terms. Many of
these terms are used in numerous alternative names.
Bearing: A
mechanical element that restricts relative movement only to the desired
direction and reduces friction between moving parts. Therefore, linear bearings
limit the movement of the object to the linear movement.
Bearing carriage
(block): Housing for ball or roller bearings mounted on a linear guide
(rail).
Guide: A mounting
system for linear bearings, also known as rails. Linear bearings can be mounted
on square or round rail guides. For square (profile) rails, the guide must have
a perfect flat planet. Otherwise, excessive wear or clogging may occur.
Stroke: Refers to
the sliding contact of a ball or roller in a linear bearing. The point where
the ball / roller touches the car is the outer track. The point where the ball
/ roller touches the rail is the inner track.
Parallel processing:
When installing the mounting system, the rails must be at the same distance
from each other at all points. Parallelism is important when mounting square
rails. For optimal performance, you need a constantly flat and parallel
surface.
Rigidity: Refers
to the amount of ball or roller deformation of the bearing when under load.
This is also called deflection.
Preload: Linear
bearings require a preload to operate at maximum. The preload eliminates the
internal space between the rail and the car. Preloading of the bearing
makes it more difficult and prepares the bearing for loading.
How do linear bearings
work?
Linear bearings include carriages and rolling elements.
Linear bearings are mounted on square or round rails, according to the
requirements of the application. Whether the ball or roller slips, the rolling
elements of the bearings help to move the load easily. These are the basic
concepts that are adjusted and adjusted to meet a wide range of industrial and
manufacturing needs.
Linear Bearing
Applications:-
Linear bearings are used for small and large applications.
Move the tools on large industrial automation equipment or see precise
movements in the microscope. We have integrated linear bearings in most custom
automation equipment.
Linear bearings in
the medical industry:-Commonly seen in the medical industry are surgical
and dental tools, diagnostic and laboratory equipment and pumps. In this field,
bearings must meet certain requirements, such as high speed, low noise,
longevity and hostile environments, resistance to chemicals or aggressive
fluids. Must be able to handle frequent cleaning, as well as smooth and quiet
operation.
Linear bearings in the
food and beverage industry:-Linear bearings in the food and beverage
industry must be robust enough to handle harsh environments and constant
cleaning and comply with health and hygiene standards. Typical bearing
applications in this industry include processing equipment, mixers, blenders,
ice machines and weighing machines.
Linear bearings in
robotics:-Robotics is a fairly new industry, but linear bearings have
proven very useful in robotics. You can find linear bearings mainly in
orthogonal robots that operate on the X, Y and Z axes. The important functions
of bearings in this industry are smooth operation, service life and load
capacity.
Square rail guide and
round rail guide:-
Linear bearings can be mounted on any rail or guide shape,
which allows the rolling elements of the bearing to move freely through the
rail. The most common types of rails are square (profile) and round rails. To
determine the best type for your application, you must identify the unique
specifications of your application. This includes load capacity, rigidity,
precision, smoothness, size and total cost.
Square rails cost more than round rails, but these days
there are not many price differences. Therefore, choosing between the two is
actually the best option. The rails and square guides offer the advantages of
greater load capacity and precision accuracy. However, to achieve these
advantages, careful installation is required to ensure parallelism and a flat
mounting surface. Circular rails, on the other hand, are faster to install and
can handle incomplete parallelism and large variations in rail height. The
disadvantage of round rails is that the load capacity is not greater than
square rails.
Caged vs Non-Caged:-
Linear bearings K on the ground contain ball seals inside
the bearings for even spacing. The original linear bearings did not contain a
cage structure and are now called linear bearings without cages.
Trapped linear bearings have several advantages. First,
linear bearings are much quieter, because metal balls do not collide with each
other. It also has a low impact on metal balls, which improves the life of the
bearing. The space between the balls also distributes the load evenly across the
bearing. The space also eliminates the uniform friction that generates heat,
providing high speed performance. Finally, the cage structure is suitable for
grease / lubrication storage and further increases the life of linear bearings.
While linear ground bearings seem to be a better option, non-caged ground
bearings remain ideal for low speed and low load applications. Non Caged
bearings are also an economical option.
What is preload?
The preloaded linear bearings are like a broken shoe, which
is much more comfortable and more pleasant. On the other hand, if you decide to
wear new shoes for a party, you can get blisters at night. Linear bearings
require preload to work in the best way. Mounting a linear bearing with a
larger ball eliminates the gap within the bearing. After that, the bearings are
solid and ready to handle the load to be transported. Often, linear bearings
are already sold preloaded, so it is better to check with the manufacturer.
The preload is suitable for linear bearings, but it can shorten
its life. Therefore, it is better to choose the amount of preload depending on
the specific application.
Flange or without
flange?
Flange or without flange is completely optional. The flange
mainly helps to mount things in the bearings, creating a more
stable installation. Linear bearings listed in the web store can be used with
or without flanges. We also offer a variety of preloads, block sizes and
topographic ball bearings with cage or without cage.
